SOCCER RULES CHEAT SHEET
U5-U6: 3v3 or 4v4 (Rec) 4-5 year olds
(no refs at this age group just parent coaches to introduce rules)
Session Length: 25 min practice 15 min halves
Players on Field: 5v5 (4 field players and 1 GK each team)
Age Specific Rules:
New Ball Method - there are no set plays coaches just roll ball in to play to keep players active and from chasing the ball to far out of bounds.
U7: 5v5 (Rec) 6 year olds
(no refs at this age group just parent coaches to introduce rules)
Session Length: 25 min practice 15 min halves
Players on Field: 5v5 (4 field players and 1 GK each team)
Age Specific Rules:
No Punting
No Heading
Throw-Ins
Include Set Pieces (corner kicks, goal kicks, kick offs
U8: 5v5 (Rec) 7 year olds
Game Length: 25 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 5v5 (4 field players and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick taken from two steps in from the top of the goal box.
Age Specific Rules:
No Punting
No Heading
U9-U10: 7v7 Recreational 8-9 year olds
Game Length: 25 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 7v7 (6 field players and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick taken from two steps in from the top of the goal box.
Age Specific Rules:
No Punting
No Heading
U11-U12: 9v9 Select 10-11 year olds
Game Length: 30 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 9v9 (8 field and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick: should be marked on field but if not 8 yards out
U13-U14: 11v11 Select 12-13 year olds
Game Length: 35 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 11v11 (10 field and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick: should be marked on field but if not it should be 12 yards out
U15 -U16: 11v11 Select 14-15 year olds
Game Length: 40 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 11v11 (10 field and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick: should be marked on field but if not it should be 12 yards out
11v11 Select U17 & U18, 16-17 year olds
Game Length: 45 min halves, 5 min halftime
Players on Field: 11v11 (10 field and 1 GK each team)
Penalty Kick: should be marked on field but if not it should be 12 yards out
GENERAL RULES
Corner kicks - the defending team kicks the ball out of bounds on the end line, the ball is kicked from the corner and can be placed on the sideline or endline to be kicked.
Goal kicks - the attacking team kicks the ball out of bounds over the end line, the ball is kicked in from anywhere along or inside of the 6 yard box (small box in front of the goal).
Note: during a goal kick the team taking the goal kick can have players inside the goal box (big box) while the team without the ball cannot. The team without the ball can enter the goal box as soon as the ball is kicked by the team taking the goal kick.
Offside - To be onside you must have two players from the other team between you and the goal in the attacking half. You can only be offside in the attacking half. You are allowed to run behind the defenders but cannot run behind them until after the ball has been kicked.
Note: There is no offside on a throw-in or corner kick. As soon as the throw-in or corner has been taken players can again be offside.
Hand Ball - A hand ball should be called when the ball hits a players hand while it is outside of their body (over their head, out to the side, etc.). It is always a handball if the player touches the ball with their hands intentionally. It is not a handball if the ball hits the players hand while it is in a position in which the ball would hit their body anyway.
GoalKeeper (GK) -
The goalie can use their hands inside of the goal box.
They should be wearing a pinnie or alternate color to distinguish them from the two teams playing.
The goalie can leave the goal box but must use their feet if they do leave the box.
If the goalie carries the ball outside of the goal box or picks the ball up outside of the goal box it is an Indirect Free Kick.
If a team intentionally passes the ball back to their GK, the GK cannot pick up the ball they, must play it with their feet. If the goalie picks the ball up it is an Indirect Free Kick (not a penalty kick). A GK can pick the ball up with their hands if the ball is played back to them with anything other than feet (e.g. head, chest etc). A ball that deflects off a GK’s teammate or is poorly cleared does not count as a pass back and can be picked up by the GK.
If the GK collects the ball with their feet outside of the goal box they can dribble it into the goal box and pick it up.
GK Distribution - Once the goalie picks up the ball they can carry it anywhere inside the box to distribute it outside of the box. They can distribute by throwing it or punting it. The GK has 6 seconds to distribute the ball (this is typically not strictly enforced, especially at the rec level, but in higher level games it is important that GK’s can not stale the game).
Punting - only allowed at the U11 and up age groups.
Throwing - unlike a throw-in they can throw anyway they like one hand or two
Penalty Kicks - A PK should be given when there is a foul inside the goal box or a handball inside the goal box.
Kick Off - A kick off is taken at the beginning of a game, to start the second half and after a goal is scored. The team defending the kick off should be ten yards away from the ball and on their own half when the kick off is taken. The team taking the kick-off must also be in their own half.
Throw-Ins - Throw-ins are taken when the ball goes out of bounds anywhere on the sideline. When taking a throw-in, the player must use two hands, bring the ball behind their head and keep both feet on the ground when throwing the ball.
Substitutions - Coaches must ask the referee for a substitution by yelling “sub referee”. Coaches can substitute only during stoppage of play including: throw-ins, corner-kicks, kick-offs, and goal kicks. They cannot sub when the keeper makes a save or during a free kick.
Fouls - Players are not allowed to push or shove in soccer. They can use their bodies to shield the ball and use their arms to hold their ground but may not extend arms to push or grab another player and must be making a play on the ball. Players cannot obstruct opponents away from the ball. When attempting to win the ball away from an opponent a player must make contact with the ball prior to making contact with the player for it to not be considered a foul.
Direct Kick - almost all fouls result in a Direct Kick. This means the player taking the kick can shot the ball straight in the goal without another player touching the ball first.
Indirect Kick - Another player must touch the ball before it goes in the goal for it to count. If a keeper picks up a passback from their teammate it is an indirect kick.